Flying for Life APR-JUN 2020 by MAF UK

APR-JUN 2020

Good news! In our mission to spread the Gospel across the world, we encounter so much for which we can give thanks to God MAF planes and people bring light and hope to people in need, enabling more and more of us to look forward with hope and expectation. For many people, life can feel extremely uncertain. It is our faith in Jesus Christ that offers us assurance – knowing He promises us a hope-filled future. It is this assurance we take to remote communities – cataract operations enable the blind to see, medicines heal the sick, food reaches the hungry and hope comes to the hopeless. Closer to home, our anniversary event is now imminent (page 8). I am very excited at the thought of hundreds of MAF family members under one roof celebrating the lives our Lord has transformed through the power of flight.

‘On those living in the shadow of death a light has dawned’ Following this recounting of an Old Testament prophecy, Matthew’s Gospel tells us Jesus then began to preach the message, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near.’ Later on, He would give to all Christians the sacred instruction to preach the Gospel, ‘in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.’ The Kingdom of heaven has come near, in part, thanks to the faithful courage of men and women willing to fly into the shadow of death. As MAF aircraft serve isolated people in remote communities, they are often in the midst of situations which could easily be interpreted as signs of the ‘end’.

On 20 June at Westminster Central Hall, London, we expect to be joined by friends from several countries in which we serve. Tickets are still available, so please phone Supporter Relations today on 01303 852819 and join us for an unforgettable afternoon.

This was true at the very beginning of our mission – for the single Miles Gemini aircraft which ventured into the unknown – and continues to be true today, when an MAF plane takes off or lands every four minutes.

It will be a privilege to reflect on and give thanks to God for the past while looking forward in faith.

We hope you enjoy the new ‘High-light’ feature (page 13), in which an MAF pilot tells a short story of life in the air.

Thank you for your prayers and gifts, which are at the heart of all the good news we are privileged to bring you. Together, we make a difference through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Thank you for continuing to uphold our courageous staff in your prayers. Richard Chambers Editor, Flying for Life

Ruth Whitaker Chief Executive, MAF UK

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This issue’s front cover shows Stuart King, receiving the Award of Honour in November 2019 (page 15).

Devastating Dorian Story Gary Clayton Photos Sam Baguma, Samaritan’s Purse and Major Hendrik Sumter

Immediately after a powerful Atlantic hurricane struck the Bahamas, MAF’s global Disaster Response team left their respective countries and sprang into action

n 1 September 2019, Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas – its 185mph winds and storm surges of up to 23 feet making it the worst natural disaster in the country’s history. The flooding and destruction left at least 50 people dead and more than 70,000 homeless. Within a few hours, our personnel executed a disaster response plan that delivered life-saving aid to where it was needed most. MAF US Pilot Brent Palmer flew shuttle loads of personnel and cargo using an aircraft owned by our partner Samaritan’s Purse. MAF staff helped co-ordinate relief flights, alongside churches and organisations such as Missionary Flight International (MFI) and The Salvation Army. On 15 September, Sam Baguma from MAF Uganda joined the team, writing, ‘This week, we visited distribution centres set up by The Salvation Army and Rev Fredrick McAlpine, pastor of a local Baptist church and Member of Parliament

Main Hurricane Dorian – the worst natural disaster in the Bahamas’ history Top Sam, Rev Fredrick and his wife Tracey Above Sam at the Salvation Army centre

for the Pineridge Constituency. ‘Rev Fredrick has been faithfully distributing the supplies we sent him and has set up a counselling centre for people who’ve been traumatised or lost loved ones. After visiting the distribution centre, we saw some of the most affected areas in Freeport. ‘One of the worst hit areas, the Regency neighbourhood, contains more than 12,000 people. Every house was severely damaged, and the residents lost everything they couldn’t carry away with them when taken to shelter before the hurricane hit. ‘We also visited Major Hendrik Sumter, his wife Euginia, and a team of four Bahamian Salvation Army staff and nine volunteers who helped sort and distribute food and relief to those who were badly affected. They also drive to remote communities that aren’t able to come to their worship centre for help.’ MFI’s 124 MAF co-ordinated flights have flown 454 passengers and transported more than 148 tonnes of aid supplies and personnel. Some 453 flights for 1,222 passengers have been carried out by Samaritan’s Purse, which also distributed 431,325 litres of clean water.

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Mercy for Africa MAF’s newest African programme is re-establishing a partnership which was a great success in Madagascar

Story Anna Rayner Photos Kelly and Mark Hewes, Mercy Ships International and Jurg van Dyk

ercy Ships International brings highly trained, professional volunteers to places where medical infrastructure is extremely limited, and trained doctors and nurses are in short supply. In 2021, Mercy Ships will be docking its floating hospital in Liberia. Last year, one of its teams flew with MAF to the only hospital in southern Liberia, to assess how best to serve the people there.

Human tragedy

Main The MAF Liberia team with Country Director Emil Kündig, second from left Top J J Dossen Memorial Hospital Above Africa Mercy docked in Liberia

Mercy Ships’ last visit to the capital Monrovia was in 2008 when the country was beginning its long recovery from more than a decade of devastating civil war. Since then, Liberia has experienced an Ebola crisis which resulted in the loss of more than 4,000 lives, including many of its doctors, nurses and midwives. The medical system was terribly damaged by the effects of this tragedy. Today, there are huge disparities in surgical coverage across Liberia’s 753 public and private medical facilities. Many lack a consistent water and electrical supply and suffer routine medication shortages. Most specialist surgical treatment is only available in Monrovia. But travel to the capital becomes difficult, even impossible, when road conditions deteriorate during the rainy season from April to November.

4 Flying for Life APR-JUN 2020 www.maf-uk.org

Not enough beds In south-eastern Liberia, 25 healthcare facilities refer their patients to J J Dossen Memorial Hospital in the city of Harper. Incredibly, around 100,000 people are served by just 110 beds. It was to Harper that MAF flew the Mercy Ships team a year ago. ‘Our team was in Liberia to complete an assessment of the healthcare system in preparation for the arrival of our hospital ship in 2021,’ a team member reported. ‘Thanks to MAF, we flew to Harper, visited the hospital and came back in a day! ‘Flying with MAF was not only a great experience, it also allowed us to save on travel time and expenses. It’s a great contribution to increasing efficiency in our process and a better use of our resources as we work towards a better way of supporting the Liberian people through healthcare.’

Healthcare and education Africa Mercy is the largest charity-run floating hospital in the world, containing 5 operating theatres, a recovery area, intensive care unit and 80 ward beds. The ship is crewed by around 400 volunteers and all healthcare and surgical services are offered for free. The ship plans to dock in Monrovia in summer 2021, where it will be moored for at least 10 months. The improvements the team

GUINEA SIERRA LEONE

CÔTE D'IVOIRE Monrovia

L I B E R I A

South Atlantic Ocean

Harper

20 miles

expects to make in the lives of impoverished men, women and children will be amazing. They will also provide education for the few local professionals in areas such as maxillofacial (face and jaw) surgery, orthopaedic trauma, paediatric anaesthesia and infection control.

place now that the foundations have been laid [pictured below], and for all our partners and personnel in Liberia.

Key to maps

— Capital city /

— MAF base — Location

A long-standing partnership Several years ago, MAF was a crucial partner with Mercy Ships in a joint mission to improve healthcare for the people of Madagascar – transporting patients, crew and equipment across that vast island. Now, in Liberia, we are looking forward to working together again to assist another nation in desperate need of help, hope and healing. Crucial to the future of MAF Liberia is the construction of an MAF hangar at SpriggsPayne airport in Monrovia. This new hangar is vital as the space we currently rent won't provide long-term protection from the weather in one of Africa’s wettest countries. Furthermore, we need a new hangar to provide the purpose-built maintenance facilities, offices, stores and workshop areas our current facility doesn't possess. Most exciting of all is the potential for growth a new hangar will bring – both in our Liberia programme and expansion into neighbouring West African countries such as Guinea. Please pray for construction works taking

Take the next step Do you want to be part of something bigger? There are many opportunities to work with MAF and change the world. We are praying for more people who can join our teams around the world and keep us flying for life. If you feel called to work in our Africa or Asia-Pacific regions, we want to talk to you today! Our lifelines need mission-hearted men and women for roles in IT, aircraft maintenance, aviation support and financial management.

And – always – pilots! For more information, please phone the HR team on 01303 850950 or email hr@maf-uk.org APR-JUN 2020 Flying for Life 5

So near and yet so far Story Gary Clayton Photos Jason Job and SHARE International

Thanks to MAF, isolated communities in Timor-Leste are gradually receiving the healthcare they so desperately need

D Main MAF Pilot Jason Job’s view of Atauro Island as he prepared to land. The flight was a mere 15 minutes, yet it represented a giant step for the health of a community which is 2 hours by sea from mainland Timor-Leste Above SHARE International’s Atauro Island project began in February 2019. Regular health checks such as this one are a great blessing for children and parents

6 Flying for Life APR-JUN 2020 www.maf-uk.org

ue to bad roads and treacherous mountainous terrain, people living on Atauro Island face extreme isolation and poor health. To reach the nearest clinic often takes a three-hour walk along steep mountain paths or rocky cliffs. The consequences include late diagnoses and treatment, dangerously poor maternal health, low immunisation rates, and intermittent patient follow-up. In June last year, SHARE (Services for Health in Asian and African Regions) – a Japanese organisation working to develop people’s knowledge and skills in health, nutrition and medical practices – used two MAF planes to transport staff to Atauro Island. The Japanese NGO has been working in Timor-Leste for 20 years, helping communities improve their health. Their programme on Atauro Island enhances the quality of medical care provided by local health facilities. Pilots Jason Job and Timothy Southcott flew Japanese and Timorese SHARE staff, along with personnel from the Ministry of Health in Dili, to the remote island. Our two

GA8 Airvans also carried medical equipment and vaccines. According to Aya Kakimoto, one of SHARE’s nurses, ‘Atauro Island is only 14 miles from Dili. Although that’s not far from the capital, there’s no daily public transport operating between the two islands, so it’s difficult to carry out SHARE’s plan.’ The 15-minute flight enabled the NGO to carry out vital field research, supervise clinic staff and meet local people. The Japanese nurse says they discovered that, ‘many children weren’t being immunised on schedule, pregnant women were malnourished, and health records weren’t properly completed. Now we understand what must be done to improve health there and are ready to implement plans.’ Jason and Timothy say it’s a great privilege to partner with organisations such as SHARE because they bring health and education to some of the world’s most remote areas. Thanks to our aircraft, patients who originally faced infrequent, unreliable boat rides or long, dangerous, windswept walks can now obtain the healthcare they need.

A life in my hands MAF Pilot Kirstein Combrink paints a vivid picture of how mission often challenges faith Photos Kirstein Combrink and Kelly and Mark Hewes

n September 2019, I flew several mobile clinic teams in the Haydom area of northern Tanzania. One of my passengers during the safari was a premature baby – born after only 24 weeks! She was the smallest person I’ve ever seen and the youngest passenger I’ve ever flown. I held the bundle of material in which the tiny baby was wrapped and could hardly feel any weight, yet movement inside the swaddling confirmed there was a life in my hands. At the end of the day, I went to Haydom Hospital to check on the patients I’d flown in. I found the baby in the neonatal unit, wrapped in blankets with warm water bottles and connected to the CPAP machine to help her breathing. I took a quick look at her chart and was amazed to see she weighed a mere 700 grammes. It also said that both her oxygen levels and pulse rate had been extremely low on arrival, and staff had only been able to record a measurable temperature several hours later. Over the next few days, I checked on the baby’s progress and there were faint but positive signs that her health was improving. However, it

promised to be a long recovery process. Before I completed all my medical flights and left Haydom, one of the nurses said she would stay in touch with the family, monitor the baby’s progress and keep me updated. When my phone rang the following week, the tragic news was that the little girl had passed away. It’s hard to understand these things sometimes. Harder still in the midst of such sadness to evaluate what difference we actually make in the lives of those we’re unable to save. But I know that a light aircraft gave this baby the best possible chance of survival. Our flight that day showed the tiny girl’s family that they – and the precious, fragile gift of life – are all highly valued by MAF staff and supporters.

Main The Haydom medical safari Left The tiniest of passengers Below Preparing for take-off

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Come and join the We promise you an afternoon to make your spirits soar

B Main Children in Angola celebrate the visit of Prince Harry to see the work of mine-clearing charity The HALO Trust. MAF has flown HALO staff for 30 years – ‘HALO could not do it without you!’ Harry told us that day Above BBC presenter Gemma Hunt – your host for the afternoon

y now, you’ll know this is MAF’s 75th anniversary year and that – this summer – we’ll be celebrating our momentous year in London. And we’d love to see you there! So, this is your final call to book tickets for the inspirational event we’ll be holding at Westminster Central Hall on Saturday 20 June. We are very excited to announce that popular BBC TV and radio presenter Gemma Hunt will be hosting our anniversary celebration. Having led our fantastic, record-breaking Advent Adventure last year, Gemma is delighted to be helping us spread the word once again, and explore all that the MAF family has achieved with God’s help over the last three quarters of a century!

A packed programme We look forward to performances from the talented 4Front Theatre, whom you may know from their excellent stage adaptation of Elisabeth Elliot’s story in Reckless Abandon. They will team up with singer Cathy Burton and Nate Saint’s grandson Jaime Saint, as well as treating us to new dramatisations from Stuart King’s seminal MAF history Hope Has Wings. Overseas staff, such as MAF Pilot Danny Gill, will share stories of how God is at work in the many countries in which they serve, giving us a fascinating insight into their own lives and the unique experiences that mission brings. And we’ve just heard that frequent MAF flyer Maud Kells will be joining us, too. Still an incredible witness for the Lord – she was recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo again – Maud is a rare example of an active

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missionary who is older than us! Finally, the wonderfully energetic CK Gospel Choir will be the perfect accompaniment to the proceedings – bringing joy to the magnificent venue and lifting our spirits heavenwards.

On the horizon So come and be part of a unique Christian event. Meet fellow supporters, connect with MAF’s global family and take a good look at what’s on the horizon for the next generation. It will be an ideal opportunity to share MAF’s incredible mission story with your friends and family – and children’s tickets are free! Doors open at 2pm, the event begins at 3pm – ends at 5.30pm – and it will be an unforgettable afternoon where you’ll: • Hear from inspirational guests, staff and beneficiaries • Celebrate what we’ve achieved so far • Honour those who’ve gone before • See what’s happening across the globe right now • Understand some of our future challenges • Explore where YOU fit into this exciting story.

The cost of tickets is £10 per adult, £5 for concessions and children under 16 will be admitted free of charge. Please book your tickets online via Eventbrite at www.maf75.eventbrite. co.uk or phone our Supporter Relations team on 01303 852819

celebration! Story Viv Wickham Photos 4Front Theatre, Marijn Goud, Gemma Hunt, Thorkild Jørgensen and Westminster Central Hall

Make a day of it Westminster Central Hall is easy to reach as it’s only a short walk from several rail and underground stations. It’s also on the route for multiple buses and local parking is available should you wish to drive into London. There is step-free access to the building from nearby Westminster Underground station, a ramped entrance at Tothill Street and passenger lifts at the Storey’s Gate entrance. At the Hall, Wesley’s Café will be open to the public as usual and there are plenty of other restaurants and cafés nearby, should you require lunch or coffee beforehand – or breakfast, if you aim to arrive early!

Our special venue is a stunning building overlooking Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. You’ll be visiting one of Britain’s most prestigious and iconic locations – so why not make a day of it? Together, we’ve travelled a very long way. Every year, our aircraft fly more than 8 million miles, transporting more than 6,000 tonnes of freight. Every day, we deliver the equivalent of a full Boeing Jumbo Jet of passengers to their remote destinations.

Top left 4Front Theatre Top right Danny Gill Above Maud Kells in the DRC

All thanks to you. So come and join the celebration! APR-JUN 2020 Flying for Life 9

Saved from suicide Our engineers not only keep MAF flying, they sometimes end up in the middle of life-or-death situations Story Gary Clayton Photos Simon Heusler and Hellen Wayambo

ne Sunday, as MAF Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Francis Wayambo was getting ready for church in Yirrkala, Arnhem Land, his daughter ran up to him. She’d just seen a distraught young man walk into the bush carrying a rope. In an area where depression and suicide are rife, Francis suspected the worst and ran after the Yolŋu man. Fortunately, Francis found Mathew in the nick of time and stopped him hanging himself from a tree. He embraced the poor man, took him to lunch, and shared the Gospel with him. Mathew eventually explained how, 6 months earlier, he’d come from an Aboriginal homeland more than 120 miles away. He’d left home to support his family financially but, for various reasons, was now unable to leave Yirrkala. A Yolŋu’s identity depends on being part of a community, so Mathew's experiences left him disorientated, depressed and dependent on relatives in Yirrkala. Desperately missing home, his debilitating depression became so intense that Mathew decided to take his own life. After praying with the beleaguered young man, Francis felt God urging him to return Mathew to his homeland. Yolŋu culture demands that, when you say you’ll do something, you must do it before the day ends. So, that very day, Francis and his wife Hellen made the gruelling six-hour round

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trip on a dusty, gravel track to take Mathew, his wife and their five-year-old son home again. Mathew’s relatives, who’d heard about the failed suicide attempt and were clearly relieved to see he was safe, received him back joyfully. A week later, Francis shared what had happened in church. ‘It doesn’t matter that I left my home in Papua New Guinea to work here. Without love for my Yolŋu brothers and sisters, this means nothing. We are called to show love to one another just as God, in His love for us, sent His Son to die on the cross.’

Timor Sea

Arafura Sea

Milingimbi

Nhulunbuy Yirrkala

Ramingining

A R N H E M L A N D Groote Eylandt

AUSTRALIA

Main Arnhem Land – a hot, humid homeland to many Aboriginal communities Left Francis Wayambo

More flights down under! Give thanks that, due to popular demand, we’re significantly expanding our regular public transport flights to remote Yolŋu communities in Groote Eylandt and Ramingining, and increasing the number of flights to Milingimbi.

New year, new home

Story Jenny Davies Photos LuAnne Cadd

As 2019 drew to a close, MAF Communications Officer Jenny Davies swapped her career as a regular Flying for Life writer for a new life in East Africa

kick crisp autumn leaves along the canal in my home town of Hythe as I think about South Sudan. I have a sense of expectation as tangible as the glorious autumn colours. Recent weeks have been a whirlwind of public speaking – my least favourite activity. I have to keep reminding myself that requesting prayer and financial support from friends and family is actually the easy part! Soon I’ll be exchanging privileges such as next-day Amazon deliveries for the rhythms of life in a country where the post rarely arrives. South Sudan became a nation in 2011 – a blank page filled with hope. Three years later, its complex political, social and ethnic legacies had unravelled. Unable to reconcile their personal agendas, the country’s leaders resorted to an armed struggle which became a bitter civil war. More than 400,000 people died as a result, and 7.5 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

MAF flies planes there because of this immediate need – new roads were not built in the brief breaks between conflicts. Trucks get stuck on dirt roads that turn to a sea of mud during the wet season, which lasts from May to November. Travellers are ambushed by armed bandits and militias. It’s the most dangerous place in the world to be an aid worker. That’s the bad news. But our media doesn’t tell the good news of incredible, resilient people praying and working tirelessly for peace. Or the MAF flights that save precious travel time so food and medical supplies can reach children in refugee camps. Or the pastor who reaches hurting communities with messages of hope and reconciliation. More than 10,000 flights have helped isolated people since the war began. These are the stories that I want to tell. I’ll miss my daily commute along the beautiful Kent coast, my church fellowship, family and friends, cosy jumpers and a

thousand little things. But I’ll take a window seat on a little plane any day, the chance to visit places so remote you won’t find them on Google maps, and the privilege of seeing God healing the world.

Main Jenny interviewing missionary Mark Ortman for Flying for Life in 2017 Above Jenny in the MAF Chad hangar – always striving for the perfect photo!

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The most difficult places Story Jo Lamb Photos Nick Frey

The Archbishop of Canterbury flew with MAF to the DRC, where an Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 2,000 lives

Main Archbishop Justin has been a passenger on several MAF flights, including this most recent trip to the DRC Above Disinfected wellington boots in the heart of Ebola country

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n 23 October 2019, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, fearlessly took the co-pilot seat in one of our planes to reach two Ebola affected cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Following strict WHO procedures for anti-contamination, the Archbishop toured two hospitals in Beni and Butembo where the virus is being contained by an army of health workers and humanitarian NGOs. The sites, operated by the DRC Ministry of Health in conjunction with WHO and UNICEF, are a hub of medical activity, with quarantine units, screening centres and blood-testing tents set up to combat the disease. Archbishop Justin is an experienced MAF passenger, flying with MAF Tanzania in 2013, and visiting Uganda in 2017 and South Sudan in 2014 to honour those whose lives had been devastated by the civil war. The Archbishop is impressed by MAF’s work and, when sensing some nerves on

the night before take-off, he told his team, ‘You have nothing to worry about. MAF flies in the most difficult places in the world, and they do it to the highest safety standards.’ Throughout the Ebola crisis, MAF has offered emergency evacuation flights, delivered blood samples and flown those working to combat the deadly disease. Thousands of vaccines have been delivered thanks to MAF aircraft. The situation is complex and – with the threat of violence increasing in the DRC – MAF is seen as a safe and trusted way to travel and transport life-saving equipment. Pilot Nick Frey, who was delighted to fly Archbishop Justin, says, ‘It’s not every day that the Archbishop of Canterbury is your co-pilot! He’s a very kind and energetic man of God, and it was a real honour to fly him to see the life-saving work taking place. The medical teams are doing an amazing job, and it’s wonderful that MAF can play its part to help fight this terrible disease.’

Photos Lungpinglak Domtta and Kelly and Mark Hewes

High-light: MAF Pilot Lungpinglak Domtta – Uganda

ne of my regular flights is to the hospital in Matany. Once a fortnight, I deliver 30kg of blood to this remote, north-eastern community – supplied, free of charge, by another hospital in the capital Kampala. I find such flights particularly satisfying because I’m literally flying for life. The distance between the two hospitals is more than 260 miles, which means a road journey of nearly 8 hours for most people. Travelling the same distance with MAF takes about 90 minutes. My aircraft of choice is the Cessna 206 – one of the smallest in our worldwide fleet and a surprisingly smooth ride for passengers, despite its size.

Another great aspect of my role is educational support for children. The MAF Uganda base in Kajjansi offers schools free tours of the airstrip and hangar. On a couple of occasions, I’ve been available to show the children around. Such events are very popular and most welcome because some airports here charge around 2,000 Ugandan shillings for a similar experience! I grew up in a remote community in India without the opportunity of a good, primary education. Now, it’s so rewarding to be able to inspire children with the story of how MAF helped me to fulfil my dream – how God blessed me by making a way to serve Him through flight.

Main Lungpinglak Domtta Above Ping – as he's known to us – surrounded by children in Moyo, Uganda. Maybe the pilot of the future is among them!

HEAR THE GOOD NEWS! This time last year, we asked you to bring an MAF speaker to your town – your response was tremendous! We receive many kind comments from our supporters about the communications we send you, whether prayer resources, fundraising packs, online posts or magazine articles. However, the experience of hosting an MAF speaker seems to connect with you on a unique level – one which obviously inspires you in a very special way. To enjoy an hour in the company of one of our brilliant volunteers, please see the enclosed flyer containing the contact details of your nearest MAF speaker. If you've heard an MAF speaker before and wish to repeat the experience, we’ll be just as delighted to hear from you! If for some reason you don’t have your flyer, or you need further information about booking an MAF speaker in our 75th anniversary year, please phone Allyson Edwards on 01303 851955. If you’re in Scotland, please phone Andy Martin on 0141 332 5222. APR-JUN 2020 Flying for Life 13

launched! Free educational resources for teachers! We’re sure you’ll agree it is absolutely essential that we tell the next generation about the amazing work of MAF. As you know, MAF Youth is passionate when it comes to raising awareness of mission among young people because they’re our future prayer partners, financial supporters and staff. Providing schools such as Holy Family Sale Moor [pictured left] with high-quality, engaging materials is a fabulous way to help teachers meet their statutory obligation to deliver religious education. It also introduces children and parents to MAF! With this in mind, we have partnered with Religious Education specialists RE Today Services to design interactive lesson plans based on the RE curriculum across the UK. We’ve produced 4 primary lesson plans for ages 7-11 and 4 secondary lesson plans for ages 12-16 (including GCSE), complete with PowerPoint presentations and delivery notes. Using case studies from the mission field and examples from MAF’s work with its many partners, the lessons cover vital areas of learning. These include the Kingdom of God, martyrdom and forgiveness, response to suffering and global Christian service. They are packed with printable worksheets, videos, role plays and other interesting ways to engage pupils. The response from schools who’ve already used the resources has been tremendous. One KS2 lead teacher wrote, ‘I had an observation yesterday, in preparation for our RE inspection that’s fast approaching. I was told that my lesson was outstanding – the “best RE lesson” my head teacher had ever observed! I used lots of the ideas and resources produced by MAF.’ We’re also developing further partnerships with schools, including the extremely exciting possibility of a ‘plane in the playground’.

To preview and download the lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations and notes, visit www.maf-uk.org/school-resources and spread the good news of free resources to all the teachers you know!

This is Mission Aviation Fellowship Mission Aviation Fellowship is a Christian organisation operating 27 programmes in developing countries to reach the world’s forgotten people – those living out of sight, out of mind and out of hope. With land access denied by inaccessible terrain – due to natural disaster, war or economic crisis – thousands of communities are completely isolated. Operating around 131 light aircraft, MAF’s pilots fly into more than 1,400 remote destinations. Whether landing in deserts or jungles, on lakes, rivers, tracks or roads, MAF planes transport essential medical care, food, water, relief teams and church workers to those in desperate need. Each flight carries practical help, spiritual hope and physical healing to thousands of men, women and children for whom flying is not a luxury but a lifeline. MAF is flying for life.

14 Flying for Life APR-JUN 2020 www.maf-uk.org

MAF UK Castle House, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone Kent CT20 2TQ 29 Canal Street, Glasgow G4 0AD FREEPOST ADM4164, PORTRUSH BT56 8ZY Dept AA1818, PO Box 4214, FREEPOST Dublin 2 T 01303 852819 E supporter.relations@maf-uk.org W www.maf-uk.org Registered charity in England and Wales (1064598) and in Scotland (SC039107) ® Registered trademark 3026860, 3026908, 3026915

Flying for Life Editor: Richard Chambers Email: editor@maf-uk.org Copy Editor: Gary Clayton Designer: Oak Creative Printer: Fretwell Print and Design Ltd Printed on sustainable paper produced from a managed forest © MAF UK APR-JUN 2020 ffmy It costs us no more than 65p to produce and send you this magazine and prayer diary

‘Extraordinary‘ Stuart King receives the Award of Honour for a lifetime’s commitment Late last year, The Honourable Company of Air Pilots (HCAP) chose Stuart King to receive their 2019 Award of Honour for his ‘outstanding and enduring contribution to aviation.’ Stuart’s name was added to the list of illustrious men and women who have written aviation history, including first man on the moon Neil Armstrong, Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell and the Red Arrows. Receiving his award in Folkestone, Stuart was joined by family, MAF colleagues and Jack Hemmings [pictured far right], who piloted MAF’s pioneering survey flight across Africa in 1948. ‘It is always humbling when we are acknowledged

for our God-given abilities,’ said Stuart, ‘and receiving this award is a particularly great honour.’ Paul Tacon, Clerk of HCAP, who presented the award said, ‘Stuart is an extraordinary and visionary man, who has done so much to enable aviation to bring relief to so many of the world’s most disadvantaged people.’ Stuart’s daughter Rebecca King, who also lived the adventure of MAF’s early days as the family pioneered initial operations, is incredibly proud of her father. She said, ‘Dad’s life motto was always to be the best man he could be in God, in every season of life. He is an inspiration to us all!’

‘Stuart is an extraordinary and visionary man, who has done so much to bring relief to so many of the world’s most disadvantaged people.’

A golden evening When MAF supporters Oswald and Valerie Hanna celebrated 50 years of marriage last year, they did so in style! Oswald and Valerie invited 70 guests to a very special golden wedding anniversary dinner at the Kilmorey Arms Hotel in Kilkeel, County Down. The musical entertainment, provided mainly by family members, included two of the happy couple’s favourite hymns – ‘There is a Redeemer’ and ‘Because He Lives’. Instead of presents, Oswald and Valerie very kindly asked for donations to be made to MAF. An incredibly generous response from family and friends led to a gift in excess of £1,600! Every table was named after an MAF aircraft with a short note about each plane – and where it currently serves – on each place card.

Our sincere thanks go to Oswald and Valerie for putting MAF at the heart of their golden evening.

If you’d like more information about organising a fundraising event for MAF, please phone Marc Giles on 01303 851955

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